Birds of a Feather
Despite many social delays, one thing arrived on schedule - hormones. And at thirteen, Darwin wanted to nest with Birdie. Not just for her name, although it was perfect.
Birdie was the prettiest and most popular girl at school. She was so cute, she could have been a Eurasian Wren or an Indigo Bunting, if she weren’t a human.
“Kids can be cruel!” screeched the Principal. Ending any further discussion about the purple crescent moon that hung just below Darwin’s left eye.
Darwin’s father, a marine biologist, was deadpan. “So you’re saying … boys will be boys.”
“Exactly!”
“No!” Darwin’s mother, an eccentric scientist, puffed out her chest and clucked at the Principal.
“Maybe mainstream schooling your son wasn’t such a good idea.”
“He just needs friends!” They squawked.
Unnerved, the Principal continued, “Many kids have a tough time … And let’s face it,” she added callously, “Your son’s a strange bird.”
Darwin had peculiarities. He communicated only through chirps before he finally spoke at age five. At eight, he would stand in the backyard flapping his arms for hours. And by ten, Darwin had wallpapered his bedroom with floor-to-ceiling graphs depicting the migratory habits of South American birds.
Doctors had words for all of this - developmental delay, stereotypy, and fixation. But Darwin was not a bird behaving badly. He was just a neurodivergent kid.
His parents indulged the oddities. Chirps and tweets became a secret family language. And so many bird feeders hung out back that hundreds of feathered friends swooped down to say “Coucou!” They only removed the feeders when a neighbor called the cops to report a scene resembling Alfred Hitchcock’s comedic-horror film, The Birds.
In his mind, Darwin’s only issue at school was that Birdie hadn’t noticed him. That he ate alone, got teased and bullied by the boys didn’t bother him. Nor did the public scolding from his gym teacher … “Get your clumsy feet off my floor!” It didn’t matter. Darwin was in love.
He hatched a plan to impress at the upcoming dance. Everyday Darwin perched himself at the used book store for hours and took copious notes on The Love Lives of Birds.
Fearless, Darwin stood in the middle of the gym floor on the big night.
Uncomfortable with eye contact, he focused on Birdie’s pink sequined plumage. Then he hiked up his pants, showing off his blue suede sneakers and turquoise socks. Off the beat of the music, Darwin danced - transforming himself into a five-foot tall Blue-Footed Booby.
Birdie’s eyes bulged! She spotted the boys - jeering, clenching fists, and approaching their prey. She flew into action and swiftly grabbed her friends. Swarming around Darwin the girls joined him in the high-step. Birdie stared down the vultures and with a sweet smile, she established dominance in the pecking order of middle school.
The girls happily danced all night long with Darwin. A lucky bird who had just found his flock.
Being adapted into an ANIMATED SHORT FILM!!!
Images courtesy of The Booby Prize - supporting Galapagos Conservation Trust
